Unconventional COVR Photo case launches for iPhone SE

The COVR Photo iPhone case promotes shooting from an unconventional angle. Rather than holding your phone with the screen facing toward you, a prism in the case redirects the camera's angle of view so the user can hold the phone as they would a remote control. Previously available for the iPhone 5/5S and 6/6S, it's been released for the iPhone SE.

The app that is used with the device has also been improved to allow control of contrast, brightness and manual focusing, as well as a square shooting option and a burst mode.

The guiding principle behind the device's design is that it allows more comfortable one-handed operation of the iPhone. Because the user points the ‘wrong’ part of the phone towards the subject, it isn’t obvious that a picture is being taken. The inventor, photo journalist Thomas Hurst, says that the design lets parents take more natural pictures of their children. He claims it is also useful for street photography and photo documentary work.

The device consists of a rigid case that snaps around the iPhone and a sliding prism with a lens unit that can be pushed over the phone’s camera unit or pulled back for 'normal' shooting. An app converts the image so that it doesn’t appear upside down on the screen.

The COVR Photo lens case for the iPhone SE costs $59.95 and comes in black, white, blue and purple. The case is also available for the iPhone 5/5S and 6/6S.

COVR Photo Releases App and New Case for iPhone SE

COVR the world with the only case that allows for one-handed iPhonography

As the only iPhone case with a built-in lens and custom app, COVR Photo is pleased to announce its case for the new iPhone SE. COVR Photo is the only case that allows users to take photos and videos while holding the phone one-handed and from a horizontal angle, like holding a TV remote.

"As a professional photographer for 20-years, I know how difficult it can be to capture a timeless moment,” said COVR Photo Founder, Thomas Hurst. "COVR came from a desire to help my wife easily capture the natural moments of our four children with the camera she always had with her – her smartphone.”

He adds, “COVR is the first smartphone case with a sliding lens built directly into it – so it’s always with you, at your fingertips, ready to help all of us capture the spontaneity of life with of our family, friends, and loved ones."

Accompanying the new iPhone SE case, COVR Photo has just launched an updated app. In addition to adding manual contrast and brightness adjustment, the new app also features a “burst” mode, improved social media sharing, square camera mode and manual focus abilities.

The iPhone SE COVR case is available online now in black for $29.95 and $24.95 for white, blue and purple. Along with the case for the new iPhone SE, COVR Photo also offers cases for the iPhone 5/5S and iPhone 6/6S.

Parents, grandparents, professionals, photo-enthusiasts and travelers around the world use COVR to take photos and videos from a unique angle to capture once-in-lifetime moments using just one hand.

The case features include:

Patented sliding feature– Allows users to shoot using the COVR case similar to a remote control, or slide the COVR lens back and take pictures or videos with the regular iPhone camera lens.

Built-in Lens– COVR Photo is the only iPhone case with a built-in lens.

Protective case– Shock absorbent rubber core and a hard outer shell provides durability and protection without the bulk and weight.

Mobile app– The free COVR Photo app complements the COVR case by redirecting pictures through the COVR Photo lens as well as allows users to adjust focus, exposure and formatting.

Based out of Renton, Wash., COVR Photo was founded in 2014 by award-winning photojournalist Thomas Hurst. Designed with a high-quality prism, COVR Photo sits at just under a half inch tall, fitting comfortably in most pockets.

About COVR Photo: Created by photographer, Thomas Hurst, COVR Photo produces revolutionary products to equip and inspire people to document the world around them through photographs and videos. To learn more, visit covrphoto.com.

This type of accessory is certainly not first of its kind. I would say, holding the camera with the screen in parallel to the lens is the most natural way because the image moves in the same direction of your hand. I am not buying their idea for shooting children.

I just cannot imagine that many people like to point their camera up while taking photos.

One year ago I bought for my iPhone 5S: the idea is excellent and the case worked fine, the app as well, but...

The outer prisme surface is plastic, it gets scratched with time and six months later your pictures acquire quite a hazy "romantic" look...12 months later the case is completely useless, mine is in the bin.

In 1972 Dr Edwin Land, founder of Polaroid unveiled the SX-70 SLR camera. It incorporated an ingenious yet simple system that folded light AND could be flattened for storage by using internal mirrored surfaces and hinges. It made a previously large optical system smaller, AND projected onto a larger format size.

44 years later and it seems design theory has gone backwards. Taking a flat smartphone and making it bigger by way of a sharp jutting optic that always sticks out and wants to poke you in the leg, or prevent you from laying the smartphone flat on its back.

I don't see how that is "shooting from an unconventional angle." It is just a waist level for a cell phone. I would agree it is unconventional for a phone, but not cameras in general. Either way, I wish I thought of it. Will be looking for a + size model.

Take photos of people secretly, unless they notice the weird attachment on your phone. When they do, rish to put it in your jeans pocket and feel the pain of that point against your leg.. or the odd bump in your jeans. This solved a problem that didn't exist.

Clearly another piece of tech that is geared towards the masses who have no clue how to better spend their hard earned cash. Before I incur the wrath of any such persons this is just my humble take whenever I see companies peddling products such as these.

I went to see that video, and sadly I have to report that:1-Doesn't he know that 99.9% of iPhone users (or any other phone) take pics & videos using the phone's PANORAMIC POSITION? Not the portrait one?2- Didn't occur to him to better patent a rotating lens?3- And last, but not least: A Domestic Quality promo video? Sir...?Great idea.Terrible sales pitch.

1. It should use an one-way mirror window so that the intended victim(s) would not be aware of the shooting lens at all.

2. It is not mentioned in the Press release at all, however, I suppose the flashlight cannot be used as it is covered by the case. Then again with the flashlight through the prism, it might interfere with the lenses.

The SE has the internals of the current flagship iP6 in a still very popular iP5 chassis. It's not just "rebranded old stock" and you very well know that. As usual, trolls like you like to spew out nonsense in the hopes something sticks to the wall.

Dude! I'm talking about the case, not the iPhone SE. There's no difference between cases for the iPhone 5, 5S and SE. I have an iPhone SE (and love it) with an iPhone 5 case. Case manufacturers claiming to introduce a case for the SE most likely put their leftover cases in a new box with 'iPhone SE!!1!!one!!1' on it. That was my point.

I am sure you can slide the lens prism back and use the phone camera as normal for landscape orientated shots but not every candid or street shot is shot in portrait orientation, especially groups of people.

Funny, I was just looking for something like this for my G4 so I could set my phone down to record a party/event without having to balance the phone precariously on a table, sandwiched between salt and pepper shakers to keep it from falling over. All I really wanted was the prism though, not a whole case.

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